Trade, movement of passengers suspended via Attari till April 15
Central govt order won’t affect Indian travellers returning home; those coming back via Pakistan from seven worst-hit countries to be quarantined for at least 15 days
DIPLOMATS, OFFICIALS OF UN, OTHER INT’L AGENCIES, JOB AND PROJECT VISAS HOLDERS EXCLUDED FROM THE BAN
of people has been barred through the border from 5:30pm on Friday. Diplomats, officials of the United Nations (UN) and other international organisations, employment and project visas holders are excluded from the ban, says the order.
“We have received a communication from the Centre in this regard. As per the order, trade has been suspended at the ICP. No foreigner will be allowed to enter India through the check-post till April 15,” said ICP in-charge Sukhdev Singh.
According to information, around 100 passengers, including Pakistani and Afghan Hindu pilgrims and the families divided across the Redcliffe Line, are arriving in India via the Attariwagah border every day.
The volume of trade at the ICP, which facilitates India trade with Pakistan and Afghanistan, is already low.
In wake of the Pulwama attack in February 2019, the Indian government had revoked the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status given to Pakistan and raised customs duty on every item being imported from Pakistan to 200%.
Following this, import from Pakistan dipped drastically as Indian traders stopped buying goods, except low-priced commodities like rock salt.
Also, Pakistani had shut trade with India after India abrogated Article 370 that granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir. Since October, only a few truckloads of dry fruits come from Afghanistan through the ICP.
Anil Mehra, president of the Federation of Karyana and Dry Fruit Commercial Association said, “Though this will affect our business, we should help the government in containing the virus.”